Mercury switch.



407N555 6" v A V i I Hill/51 9705- F. W. SCHMIDT MERCURY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19.1914. RENEWED APR- 13. 191 7.

1 ,256,3 80. Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

. i' f j h a a I 1 v. I HTTO/WWSe/S- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. SCHMIDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TIMES-SYSTEMS COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MERCURY SWITCH.

Application filed October 19, 1914, Serial No. 867,295. Renewed April 13, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. SCHMIDT, a subject of th Emperor of Germany, residing at Chicago, county of Cook,

State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mercury Switches, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to produce a simple and novel mercury switch which may successfully be made of any desired size and which, by simply varying its actuating means, becomes adapted to a wide range of uses.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its object and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a switch arranged in accordance with one form of my invention, suitably mounted;

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the switch shown in Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are end views, diagrammatic in their nature, illustrating various operating means for oscillating the switch. The switch comprises a barrel or shell 1, of steel, open at one end and closed at the other end; a hollow plug of insulating material, 2, fitted into the open end, the inner portion of the plug being somewhat reduced in diameter so as to leave an annular space between it and the surrounding shell, and there being a port or passage, 3, leading from the interior of the plug to the exterior at a point between the ends of the reduced portion of the plug; a post, 4, of conducting material fitting into the plug 2 and forming one wall of the chamber in the nterior of the plug; journals, 5 and 6, pro ecting respectively from the end member of the shell or casing, 1, and from the post 4:; and bodies of mercury, 7 and 8, disposed respectively in the shell or casing around the plug and within the interior of the plug, the 5 combined mass of the mercury being such Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 161,935.

that when the switch is held with its axis horizontal the two bodies of mercury unite through the port or passage 3 in predetermlned angular positions of the switch, but are separated from each other during other predetermined angular positions, It will of course be seen that by varying the relative diameters of the reduced portion of the plug and the interior of the shell orcasing, varying the size and shape of the port or passage, 3, and varying the quantity of mercury, any desired ratio may be obtained between the angle during which contact between the two bodies of mercury is maintained and that during which such contact is interrupted, in 7 a complete revolution of the switch. Where the switch is intended to be oscillated instead of being rotated, further variations in the operation may be obtained by varving the normal angular position of the switch and the angle of oscillation.

The shell or casing with its end wall and journal member 5 may be formed out of a. single piece of metal, The plug. instead of being driven directly into the open end of the shell or casing, may first be driven or forced into a metal cap, 7, which is in turn pressed into the shell or casing. The center of the cap is cut away so as to leave an annular space of considerable width between the cap and the post 4. The plug may be made of insulating material of any desired height, preferably of fiber, and the chamber therein may conveniently be in the form of a cylindrical bore opening out of the plug at the large end of the latter. When the post. 4: is driven into the open ended bore, it closes the bore and makes a chamber thereof and at the same time rigidly connects the post and the plug. 7

The two journals, 5 and 6, are of course the terminals of the switch. the mercury' bath. 7, having a permanent electrical connection with the journal 5 and the body of mercury. 8, in the plug having a permanent electrical connection with the journal 6. Consequently, whenever the two bodies of mercury unite, the two journals are placed in electrical connection with each other, this connection oeing again interrupted when the two bodies of mercury are separated.

As I have heretofore stated. the switch may be operated in any desiredmanner in order to produce the results required for any given use to which the switch is put. In 110 Fig. 1, the switch is shown as revolublymounted between two metal standards, 9, each provided with a binding post, 10. A pinion, 11, on one of the journals serves as a means for rotating the switch.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a means for oscillating the switch, consisting of a segment, 12, meshing with the pin 11 and operated in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a means for magnetically oscillating the switch, consisting of an electro-magnet, 13, having a cam shaped armature, 14, mounted on the switch at any point between the extreme outer ends of the two journals. The armature serves also as a counter-weight to return the switch to its normal position when the electro-magnet is deenergized.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a snap mechanism consisting of a bowed spring, 15, and a crank arm, 16; the crank arm being fixed to the shaft of the switch and one end of the spring being attached to the crank arm. The spring may be put under tension mechanically or electro-magnetically, in any suitable way so as to oscillate the switch from its normal position, the spring returning the switch to such normal position when the springis released.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the terms employed in the dfinitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mercury switch comprising a cupshaped shell of conducting material, a hollow plug of insulating material fitting into the mouth of the shell, a portion of the plug being smaller in diameter than the interi'or of the shell so as to leave a space between the plug and the shell, the plug having a port therethrough in a position to connect the interior thereof with said space, a body of mercury within said plug, a body of mercury within and only partially filling the aforesaid space, and a conductor extending into the plug and contacting with the mercury therein.

2. A mercury switch comprising a cupshaped'shell of conducting material, a hollow plug of insulating material fitting into the mouth of the shell, the inner end of the plug being smaller in diameter than the interior diameter of the shell, said plug having a port extending laterally through the reduced portion and connecting the space within the plug with the space surrounding the plug, a body of mercury partially filling the space within the shell around the plug, a body of mercury within the plug,

and a post of conducting material extending axially'into the plug from the outer end and contacting with the mercury in the plug.

3. A mercury switch comprising a cupshaped shell of conducting material, a hollow plug of insulating material fitting into the mouth of the shell, the inner end of the plug being smaller in diameter than the interior dlameter of the shell, said plug having a port extending laterally through the reduced portion and connecting the space within the plug with the space surrounding the plug, a body of mercury partially filling the space within the shell around the plug, a body of mercury within the plug, a post of conducting material extending axially into the plug from the outer end and contacting with the mercury in the plug, and supporting journals for the switch projecting respectively from the bottom of the shell and from said post in alinement with each other.

4. A mercury switch comprising a cupshaped shell of conducting material, a hollow plug of insulating material fitting into the mouth of the shell, the inner end of the plug being smaller in diameter than the interior diameter of the 7 $11,611, \sa id plug having a port extending laterally throu 95 the reduced portion and connecting the space within the plug with the space surrounding theplug, a body of mercury partially filling the space within the shell around the plug, a body of mercury within 100 the plug, a post of conducting material extending axially into the plug, supporting journals for the switch projecting respectively from: the bottom of the shell and from said post in alinement with each other, sup- 105 porting bearings for said journals, and means for moving the switch angularly.

5....A mercury switch comprising a cylindrical cup-shaped shell of conducting material having an integral journal projecting 1.10 axially from the bottom thereof, a hollow plug of insulating material fitted into the mouth of the cup and having a reduced inner end, the plug having a transverse bore extending through one side thereof and con- 115 necting the interior thereof with the space within the shell, a post of conducting material provided with an integral journal secured axially within the outer end of the plug, a body of mercury filling the interior i for establishing an electrical connection between said terminals upon changing the position of said shells.

' 7. A switch comprising an outer shell of conducting material, in combination with an inner shell of insulating material spaced therefrom, said shells operating as a unit, means of communication between the interior of said inner shell and the space be- 10 tween said shells, terminals connecting with said shells and insulated one from the other by the inner shell, and fluid means within both the inner and the outer shells for establishing electrical connections between 5 said terminals.

8. A switch comprising in combination an outer shell of conducting material, an inner shell of insulating material constituting a hollow plug fixed within said outer shell,

tion between the interior of the inner shell and the interior of the outer shell whereby the separated bodies of mercury may minle. g In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK W. SCHMIDT. Witnesses:

VVM. F. FREUDENREICH, RUTH E. ZETTERVALL. 

